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† THE GLASS FACTORY. †
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¨¨¨,»:†§&@ SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ AND A GIFT SHOP. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ CONSIDERED POOR. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# SOME ARE SHATTERED. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## †† ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# †† †† #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ »»»»»»» † † »»»»»»» @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& †† †† &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ †† §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## LIT FROM BEHIND. ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ †† @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& †† †† &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ »»»»»»» † † »»»»»»» §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& †† †† &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ †† @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# FLOOR. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# BECOME STILL. #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# †† #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ †† †† @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& »»»»»»» † † »»»»»»» &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ †† †† §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& †† &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨,»:†§&@## SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER ##@&§†:»,¨
¨¨,»:†§&@# THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK #@&§†:»,¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND @&§†:»,¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨,»:†§ THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? §†:»,¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨,»:†§& &§†:»,¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨,»:†§&@ I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. @&§†:»,¨¨¨
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